Brick by Brick: LEGOLAND Florida Resort Builds On Their Legacy

March 24, 2016

As a kid, I was a maniac for LEGO—I loved constructing whimsical kingdoms from my multitude of jewel-toned blocks, possibly even more than I loved tearing them down. The endless possibilities, the infinite cycle of creation and destruction—from a young age, the LEGO universe instilled a love of building and design that paved my way into architecture.

Fast forward a few decades and I’m still playing with LEGO, albeit on a slightly grander scale. Brick by brick, LEGOLAND Florida Resort is becoming one of Central Florida’s vacation staples, and for good reason—while the bright colors and imaginative environment appeal to children, adults who visit will appreciate seeing cutting-edge technology merge with one of their favorite childhood past times.

On their fifth anniversary, park officials announced a series of sweeping expansions that would push the limits of the park like never before. WMB (Architecture) was fortunate enough to be part of the design team responsible for two of the park’s newest attractions: LEGOLAND Ninjago World, and the LEGOLAND Beach Retreat. Playing with LEGO has taken on a whole new meaning.

Let’s take a peek at these two unique features slated for release in 2016-17:

Making a Splash

Ten months after opening their first hotel, LEGOLAND Florida Resort made the decision to more than double their accommodations. The LEGOLAND Beach Retreat will combine surf, sand, and signature LEGO style on a scenic strip of sunny Lake Dexter. Distinguished by a colorful LEGO lighthouse, the relaxing lakefront resort will feature 83 beachy bungalows, offering 166 separate accommodations that can sleep up to five. Have a pool party, hang out in the 12,000 square foot clubhouse, or simply catch some rays at the lakeside play area where the surf meets the turf. Fortunately, the sandy shores aren’t made of millions of tiny tan LEGO blocks! Ouch!

Wax On, Wax Off

Inspired by the wildly popular LEGO building sets and the successful TV show “LEGO NINJAGO: Masters of Spinjitzu,” the park’s newest area will hone your Ninja skills to defeat the Great Devourer through a cutting-edge, interactive theme park experience. Guests will traverse the park, earning points for successfully completing their training, ending at LEGO NINJAGO The Ride; Using nothing but hand gestures, park goers will wield the elements in an immersive 4D ride that will test guests’ balance, agility, and coordination.

Putting the WIN in Winter Haven

Over the past five years, LEGOLAND Florida Resort has helped transform Winter Haven from a periphery city in central Florida to another major player in Florida’s tourism scene. Much like a big box of LEGO blocks, the rapid growth of the park feels limitless. With additions to the water park and a new immersive LEGO Nexo Knights 4D movie slated for 2017, it is looking to be another banner year for the emerging park. Hopefully, LEGOLAND Florida Resort will inspire a whole new generation of tinkerers, designers, artists, and architects who will continue to build the park up and out for years to come!